THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS
Chapter One
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket will never belong to me!
*Outside/ Arrow Target Range*
"Kyo! Will you please go to your English lessons? Ayame can't possibly teach you proper grammar if you're out here shooting arrows!" Shigure whimpered.
"No way! I'm not going back to that dumb snake's classroom!" Kyo retorted angrily, as he let loose another perfectly aimed arrow at the wooden target.
Shigure was silent for a few moments and as he gently opened his favorite fan, he said, "Ah, what a shame. Princess Tohru from the Kingdom of Spades is waiting ever so patiently in Ayame's classroom, and you can't stop shooting arrows long enough to—"
An arrow whizzed dangerously by Shigure's head, which struck the tree behind him with a deafening thud.
"Fine, I'll go to Ayame's classroom." Kyo said quietly. And with that, he sauntered off the grassy practice range and walked into a doorway, which lead straight to Ayame's classroom.
"Hm… I knew he'd see it my way! ^ ^" Shigure said happily as he followed behind Kyo.
*Ayame's Classroom*
Kyo was in a very bad mood today. He had been shooting arrows in order to focus his energy and calm down his temper, but it didn't help.
It all started in the morning, when his father coolly told Yuki and him that all the princes and princesses in the land were going to stay at their castle until New Year's Day.
Yuki, in the same irritating, cold tone, had asked their father why they were coming.
Their father sipped his favorite peach tea before quietly saying, "The Shadow Emperor wants an empress. He wants his empress to be of royal blood. That is why all the princes and, especially, the princesses are coming to this castle. We must train the new empress to be polite, intelligent, and to the liking of the Shadow Emperor and his court."
And with that, he and Yuki were dismissed from their father's presence. Kyo loathed both his father and Yuki. They were just so damn alike! And to top it off, he had English and Art lessons with Ayame today.
But when Shigure mentioned Princess Tohru's name, Kyo's eyes, which had been seething red all day long, softened dramatically. It was a well-known fact in the court that Kyo had his heart set on Tohru. Only with Tohru, was Kyo able to break the high walls that he had built around himself.
And there she was, sitting in one of Ayame's bright-yellow desks, her long, brown hair cascading from her shoulder, her deep blue eyes glittering, and her sweet smile radiating her face.
Tohru glanced at the doorway, and saw Kyo standing there; his orange hair ruffled and wild, his cat-like ruby eyes blinking curiously, his lean figure dressed in a cotton shirt and loose-fitting pants, and a relaxed grin on his face.
"Hello, Prince Kyo." Tohru said politely.
Before Kyo could reply, a pair of arms swiftly tucked Kyo in a strangle-hold and a loud voice cried, "Kyo! I've missed you sooooo much! Why didn't you send me any letters? I know I sent you at least thirty letters last month!"
"Kagura!" Kyo hollered. "Get off of me!"
"Waahhh! Kyo! Don't you like getting hugs from me?" Kagura wailed.
"Geez, will you hang on for a second? I came here to talk to Tohru!" Kyo said roughly.
"Oh…" Kagura mouthed.
Tohru quickly stood up and gave Kagura, her older sister, a hug. Just then, Shigure and Yuki walked in and were about to say their hellos, but saw Kagura crying in Tohru's arms.
"Uh… What's going on?" Shigure asked hesitantly.
"It's Kyo's fault, isn't it?" Yuki said stonily.
"What?! Why am I always the bad guy?" Kyo shouted indignantly.
"Because it always is!" Yuki replied instantly.
"Oh yeah! You wanna take this outside?" Kyo challenged heatedly.
"Stop it! Both of you stop it!" Tohru said loudly, as she came in the middle of the two angry boys.
"But--" Kyo started.
"Come with me, Kyo." Tohru said quietly, and she dragged him away from Ayame's classroom, leaving the room ringing with the tension between the two boys.
When Tohru found a deserted room, she pulled Kyo inside and closed the door. She turned around with a small frown on her face.
"What was that all about?" she demanded.
"I, uh, well… ^ ^;;;" uttered Kyo.
"Kyo! You can't just yell at people like that! It really hurts peoples' feelings when you do that!" Tohru said with a look of concerned compassion in her eyes.
Kyo gaped at Tohru. He had nothing to say to her. All he could do was look into her eyes and hope that she wouldn't be angry anymore.
"I'm sorry." Kyo whispered.
Tohru gave an exasperated sigh and reached down and held Kyo's hand with both of her hands and said, "Kyo, I know you're not a bad person. But will you please act more nicely to everyone, especially my sister?"
Kyo just stared at Tohru. "She's a lot prettier than the last time I saw her." He thought. "I wonder if she remembers the time I kissed her in the wardrobe in my room…"
"Kyo? Are you listening to me?" Tohru asked with a puzzled look which was etched into her face.
Kyo smiled warmly and leaned in closer to Tohru, who had been standing against the wall.
"Mm-hmm." Muttered Kyo, whose right hand was at her waist and his left hand gently touching her face.
Tohru fell silent. She too had missed Kyo a lot. Now that she saw him standing in front of her, alone, she noticed that he had grown taller and more handsome than their last meeting two years ago.
Now, Kyo had wrapped his arm around Tohru and pulled her closer to him, until their chests touched. And after he tenderly pulled back a strand of hair on her face; he gently touched Tohru's lips with his own, and felt her arms wrap around his neck.
Kyo felt like he was heaven. Tohru's lips were so soft and warm… He kissed her lips a few more times and then he moved down. He sucked affectionately at her neck, his hands traveling around her waist and back.
Tohru gently lifted Kyo's face so that their eyes met.
"Kyo, do you know why I came?" Tohru asked softly.
Kyo looked at Tohru confused, wanting to go back kissing again, until it struck him. She was one of the princesses that could become the empress of the Shadow Emperor.
"Yeah, I do." Kyo muttered.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door and Ayame's muffled, but still, very loud voice whined, "Tohru? Kyo? Oh, why did you two leave my classroom? I left to get some tea and cookies, but nobody was there!"
Tohru quickly opened the door, and greeted Ayame warmly. Ayame, who looked like an abandoned puppy, instantly became himself, and in his sing-song voice he said, "Oh, Princess Tohru! I've missed you so much!" And with that, Ayame grabbed Tohru by the shoulders and took her into a warm embrace.
Kyo, who had already been angry at Ayame, glanced at the two hugging, and immediately shouted, "Get your hands off of her, Ayame! #"
Ayame squeezed Tohru tighter and told Kyo, "I'm a snake, I need body heat to be truly happy! ^ __ ^"
This caused Kyo, whose anger level was already off the scale, to get even angrier, causing small puffs of steam to come out of his ears.
"I'll show you happiness…" Kyo muttered in a fake, sweet tone, as he dragged him out of the room.
Tohru stood at the doorway confused at what had just happened. Out of nowhere it seemed, Yuki's voice said, "Princess Tohru! What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Huh? Oh, Prince Yuki! Hello! How are you?" Tohru said cheerfully.
"I'm well, and you?" Yuki asked sincerely.
"Oh, I feel fine, I guess." Tohru replied shyly.
"Um, would you like to take a walk outside, Princess Tohru?" Yuki asked.
Tohru looked up at Yuki, slightly surprised.
"That would be nice." Tohru replied with a sunny smile.
Tohru felt strange walking side by side with Prince Yuki, as though they were friends; because he had always been the composed and unapproachable prince, even when they were kids.
(Memory Flashback)
"C'mon Yuki! Let's go catch fireflies!" the eight-year old version of Kyo asked.
"No." the younger version of Yuki replied coolly. "I don't want to catch stupid fireflies!"
"But, Yuki! Today's the Firefly Festival! If you catch a firefly, it'll bring you good luck and maybe grant you a wish!" the young Kyo said enthusiastically.
"Go away, Kyo. You're bothering me." Yuki said coldly and he walked away.
The young Tohru saw all of this and ran over to Yuki. She grabbed him by the arm and said, "Oh, c'mon Yuki, let's catch fireflies with the others!"
The frosty look that Yuki gave Tohru made her let go of his arm. And she watched him as he walked into the shadows…
*End of memory*
"The weather is nice today, isn't it, Princess Tohru?" Yuki asked.
"Uh... Yes, today's a beautiful day for walking outside." Tohru replied, who had just snapped back from her memory flashback.
"Why don't we have a picnic then? By the pond?" Yuki asked with a smile that seemed confident, yet awkward at the same time.
Tohru glanced at Yuki and thought, "Why has he changed so much? And why is he so nice to me, after all these years? Hm…"
Soon, Tohru pulled herself together and said, "We should. We should go on a picnic today!"
The shy smile on Yuki's face turned into a big, warm smile. (which was really, really rare!) The icy snow had slightly melted in his heart.
*Meanwhile in a room with a round table sat King Edwin, Hatori, and Shigure.*
"Your Majesty, the princes and princesses will be coming tomorrow." Hatori said to King Edwin.
"Yes, you're right. Shigure, are the preparations made for our guests?" King Edwin asked Shigure.
"The servants are finishing them as we speak." Shigure replied.
The king stopped and gently massaged his head. Headaches and migraines seemed to constantly bombard his thoughts.
"I must be getting old." he thought. "The Shadow Emperor wants an empress to continue his dynasty, but I also need an heir as well…"
"King Edwin, are you alright?" Shigure asked concernedly.
"I'm fine, it's nothing. I was just thinking that only one of my sons will be king, and I'm afraid that if I ask Yuki, he will reject my offer. He never wanted to be a prince. He told me a long time ago. He said by being the first-born prince, he couldn't do anything without being observed by a million busybody people."
"Yuki is right." Hatori started. "Although he and Kyo are twins, he is the first-born, and first-born princes are closely scrutinized by the public at all times and are automatically given most of the burden."
"What about Kyo?" Shigure asked. "He may not be as talented or collected as Yuki, but compassion and bravery lies deep in his heart."
"No," the King began, "Kyo can never be king. He detests royal etiquette and being in the room with other people. To be king, a man should be open and amiable, so that he can make allies and prevent wars."
"But on the other hand." Hatori began. "Kings should also have the will and bravery that Kyo shows. Besides, if the king cannot make allies and friends, then the queen can make up for that."
"Your words are true." King Edwin said, and the two men were dismissed from the round table, leaving the king by himself in deep thought.
King Edwin thought about Hatori and Shigure's words; they seemed to be directing their support towards Kyo as the heir to the throne. "Yuki… Kyo… They were his only two sons, yet he distanced himself between them as much as possible."
Suddenly the words appeared in his head, as though they constantly haunted him in his every waking moment, "You're as cold as snow… Your heart made of solid ice… Your eyes two blinking orbs of darkness… You are like me in many ways, dear Edwin…"
King Edwin shuddered and his old body shook. He stood up to look outside the window, where he saw Yuki and Tohru walking together.
"My son… You're growing up too fast for me, Yuki. Maybe it's because you remind me when I was nineteen. Aloof, lonely, cold… Maybe Tohru is the warm spring that can melt away your wintry heart."
And with that, the day ended without any exceptional incidents. Except that Ayame got a black eye, Tohru and Yuki enjoyed a lovely picnic together, and Kyo learned the art of finger painting in Ayame's art class.
AN:/// Whew! This chapter took forever to write!
Me: Hey, Kyo, what do you think of this first chapter?
Kyo: Honestly, I think—
Me: *turning away* Tohru, did you like this chapter?
Tohru: I think it's wonderful!
Me: *beaming* Why, thank you, Tohru!
Kyo: HEY! I didn't finish my opinion! You can't cut me off like that!
Me: *he, he, he* Yes I can! I'm the author! :P
Yuki: Author, can the next chapter have me and Tohru together? I really didn't like the part with Kyo and Tohru—he acted like a drunken fool!
Kyo: + What?!
Me: Hm… Let's see… I think I can add that in. *looking thoughtful*
Kyo: HEY! LET ME TALK!
Me: Alrighty then! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! ^ ^ Pleez submit reviews! Go on, go on! I know you want to!!! *Casting evil eye upon you!* O .O
